Vincent’s mind raced, his pulse hammering against his ribs. He forced himself to take slow, measured breaths. Panicking wouldn’t help—he needed a plan.

His fingers flexed behind him, searching for anything—an edge, a weakness in the knots, something to exploit. The ropes cut into his wrists, his skin raw, but pain was a lesser concern now.

Then he noticed it.

A faint looseness in the left rope.

It wasn’t much, but it was something.

Gritting his teeth, Vincent twisted his wrist, subtly rolling it back and forth to widen the gap. It hurt like hell, the friction biting deep, but he pressed on. Seconds stretched into agonizing minutes. His hands trembled from the strain, but the rope gave a fraction more.

A sharp sound made him freeze.

Footsteps. Approaching fast.

Vincent forced himself to go limp, letting his head droop forward. He slowed his breathing, pretending to still be unconscious.

The door creaked open.

A shadow spilled across the floor, and heavy boots stopped just inches from him.

“Still out cold?” a voice muttered. It was familiar—one of them. One of the bastards who did this.

Vincent didn’t react.

A scoff, then the man moved closer. “Pathetic,” he muttered, grabbing Vincent’s chin roughly, tilting his face up. The man let out a chuckle. “Yeah, he’s done.”

Wrong move.

Vincent’s eyes snapped open, and he surged forward with all the strength he had left, slamming his forehead into the man’s nose.

A sickening crunch.

The man cursed, stumbling back, blood spurting from his face. Vincent didn’t waste a second. He yanked at the ropes again, the burst of adrenaline making his fingers work faster, ignoring the burn as the knots weakened further.

The man recovered, rage twisting his bloodied face. He lunged.

Vincent jerked his arms free at the last second and ducked, rolling off the chair. The impact rattled his sore body, but he ignored it. Scrambling to his feet, he grabbed the chair and swung.

Wood met bone with a brutal crack.

The man hit the ground, unmoving.

Vincent panted, his hands shaking. He had no time to celebrate. More footsteps echoed outside.

They knew.

He bolted to the door, pushing the unconscious man aside. The hallway was dimly lit, stretching into the unknown. He didn’t know where he was, but that didn’t matter. Only one thing did.

Hazel.

He had to find her.

His feet pounded against the floor as he ran.

I won't let you force her, Chris. I won't  he said with determination in his mind

***

Hazel sped down the empty road, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. The adrenaline coursed through her veins, sharp and intense, but she couldn’t allow herself to celebrate just yet. This wasn’t over. Chris would come after her. He’d have to.

The car’s engine roared as she pushed it faster, the wind whipping through her hair, the trees blurring past. Her mind raced, searching for an escape plan. She couldn’t keep driving forever. The road ahead was wide and empty, but eventually, there’d be another car. Another obstacle.

But for now, she was free.

Her pulse slowed slightly, but her heart still thudded with an urgency she couldn’t shake.

Focus, Hazel. Don’t panic, just think.

She quickly glanced at the rearview mirror. Nothing. No sign of them yet.

She gritted her teeth and made a sharp turn onto a side road that twisted into the forest. The trees towered on either side, their shadows stretching long in the fading sunlight. It was the kind of place where she could hide for a while. But how long before they found her?

Minutes felt like hours. She couldn’t stop thinking about Chris, about the way he looked when she pulled away. The shock, the anger, the complete control he thought he had over her.

But not anymore. She wouldn’t be anyone’s prisoner again. Not even his.

She needed a plan. A real one.

Hazel’s gaze darted around, searching for any sign of life. Any place where she could get help. The road was narrow, the trees thick, and she hadn’t passed another car in over ten minutes.

Suddenly, she heard engine voice behind her.

Her heart dropped.

No way. Already?

Hazel’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. She pressed her foot harder on the gas pedal, feeling the engine roar with the extra speed.

The car behind her grew closer . She could hear the sound of tires screeching as it gained on her.

Chris.

He wasn’t going to let her get away that easily.

She swerved the wheel sharply, barely missing a tree, and sped down an even more remote path. Her breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t let him catch her. Not now. Not when she was so close.

But Chris wasn’t far behind.

she could hear the engine accelerating, closing the gap between them.

She needed to think fast.

There. A clearing up ahead. She slammed on the brakes, steering sharply to the side, sending the car skidding onto the grass. The wheels spun, kicking up dirt, but she regained control and drove straight into the clearing. A quick glance over her shoulder told her Chris had followed her into the open space.

The clearing stretched out ahead of her—no cover, no escape. Her breath came in sharp, ragged gasps.

She needed something, anything to give her the upper hand.

Think, think, Hazel, she told herself. A plan. Focus.

Hazel’s mind raced, but the only thing that came to her was instinct. She could hear Chris’s car closing in, the engine roaring louder with every second, but there was nowhere to hide in the clearing. She had to act now.

She slammed the brakes again, sending the car into a sharp U-turn, throwing it around in a way that would leave Chris disoriented for a moment. The tires screamed in protest as they skidded on the dirt, but she managed to swing the car in the opposite direction, heading toward a narrow trail leading into the thick woods. It was risky, but it was her only chance.

The trees ahead were dense, the path barely wide enough for a car, but Hazel didn’t hesitate. She pushed the accelerator again, the car jolting forward, branches whipping against the windows as she tore into the forest. The engine’s growl was the only sound now, drowning out the world outside.

Behind her, Chris’s car was still on her tail, but the narrow, winding trail made it harder for him to keep up. She could hear his tires sliding, the sound of him losing control briefly, but he quickly regained his speed.

Hazel’s breath came faster now, but she refused to let the panic take over. She focused on the road ahead, eyes scanning for any opening, any chance to gain a little more distance.

She took a sharp right turn, nearly losing control as the wheels hit a slick patch of mud. Her car slid for a moment, but she corrected it quickly, the adrenaline making her movements sharp and precise.

The woods stretched on, endless, and still, Chris was behind her. His car wasn’t as nimble, but he was persistent, and she knew he’d follow her until there was nowhere left to run. Hazel’s thoughts started to spiral again. She needed help, but she had no idea where to go. No phone, no signal. The forest was her only ally now.

Hazel’s heart pounded as she sped through the winding trail, the trees flashing by in a blur. She knew she couldn’t keep running forever. Eventually, the road would open up, and Chris would catch up to her. But as she pushed the accelerator, her mind raced for an idea. She had to get ahead of him, trick him, give herself a moment to breathe.

The trees began to thin, and Hazel could see a break in the forest—an opening leading to the road ahead. She knew this could be her chance, but it was risky. The moment she took the road, Chris would be right behind her, no doubt.

She took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around the wheel. She needed to think quickly. As the road grew clearer, she made a split-second decision. With a sharp turn of the wheel, she swerved off the trail, maneuvering her car into a narrow spot on the side of the path. It was a tight squeeze, but just enough to make Chris misjudge. His car came into view, the headlights glowing in the distance. He was coming fast.

The moment Chris passed, Hazel quickly swung her car onto the road, slamming her foot on the accelerator. Her car roared to life, speeding down the open stretch. But when she glanced back, her eyes widened in surprise.

Chris’s car had gotten stuck. His tires spun wildly, unable to get traction on the muddy edge of the road. It was like a cruel twist of fate, a laugh—short and bitter—escaped Hazel’s lips. She couldn’t believe it.

She didn’t waste a second. Hazel pushed the gas pedal to the floor, her car racing forward as she pulled away from the scene. The road stretched ahead, clear and open, but she knew Chris wouldn’t give up. He’d come after her again, but for now, she had the upper hand.

Her heart was still pounding, but a wave of relief washed over her. She was free. Once again .

***

Vincent's heart raced as he approached Chris’s house, the urgency of the moment weighing heavily on him.

As soon as the doorbell rang, Vincent’s hand clenched into a fist. He couldn’t waste another second. When the door creaked open, and a maid appeared, Vincent didn’t wait for her to speak. He pushed past her, his urgency surging through him.

The maid stumbled back, clearly caught off guard by his forceful entrance. she said “ Hey,  You can’t just come in—”

“I don’t have time for this,” Vincent growled, brushing her off. His eyes scanned the hallway, his mind already two steps ahead. He knew Chris was with Hazel, dragging her to a wedding she didn’t want. He needed to stop them. Now. “Where is he? Where  is chris” Vincent’s voice was filled with a burning determination.

The maid hesitated, her face filled with uncertainty. “They… they left already,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vincent’s stomach dropped, his grip tightening on the doorframe. “Left? Where?” His words were barely controlled as a wave of anger and desperation flooded him.

“They went to the wedding,” she said reluctantly, as if trying to gauge whether to tell him more. But Vincent didn’t need more. The anger surged within him, sharp and relentless.

He was forcing her into marriage. The thought burned through Vincent's mind.

Vincent didn’t ask for more details. His mind was already moving. “Where is it? Which church?” He knew this had to be the final step. He had to get to her before Chris could make her marry him.

The maid glanced at him, almost pleadingly. She clearly wasn’t comfortable with this situation. “It’s at St. Anne’s Church,” she said, her voice barely audible.

Without another glance at the maid, he turned and hurried toward the door.

He was almost at the door when the sound of screeching tires echoed in the driveway. Vincent’s eyes darted toward the noise just in time to see two black cars pull up in front of him. The doors slammed open, and the men he had seen earlier, the ones who worked for Chris, stepped out, blocking his exit.

***

Where the hell he was taking me ?

The road stretched endlessly ahead, the eerie emptiness pressing in on her. Hazel’s heart pounded as she gripped the steering wheel tighter. How far is the city? she asked herself, her eyes darting between the road and the dimming fuel gauge.

Still, she kept driving, refusing to stop. And then—finally—she saw it. The city skyline in the distance. Still far, but at least I’m getting somewhere.

She exhaled, relief washing over her—but it was short-lived.

The car sputtered.

Her stomach dropped.

What’s happening? Panic surged through her veins as she glanced down. The fuel gauge was nearly at zero.

No. No, no, no.

Her fingers trembled as she gripped the wheel. Not now. Not when I’m this close.

“Please,” she whispered, as if pleading with the car. Just a little more. Let me get into the city. I’ll run from there. I swear, I’ll run.

But the car didn’t listen.

With one final jolt, it came to a dead halt.

Hazel let out a sharp, frustrated breath. “Damn it!” She slammed her hands against the steering wheel  .  I wasted too much time. I should’ve never taken the damn forest route.

And then—she heard it.

A car.

The low, rumbling sound of an engine approaching.

Her breath hitched. She turned her head, her heart stopping in her chest.

Oh, no. No, no, no.

The sound  pierced the silence , growing by every second.

I can’t get caught. Not like this. Not here.

Without another thought, she pushed the car door open and bolted.

The wind tore through her hair as she grabbed fistfuls of her dress, lifting it to run faster. The gravel crunched beneath her feet. She didn’t dare look back. She couldn’t.

But she could hear it—the tires screeching, the car speeding up.

He’s coming.

Hazel’s breath came in short, desperate gasps as she ran into the night.

Run. Don’t stop. Run.

To be continued...